When you take a break from your blog its hard to know where to start - do you go back to the last thing and try to catch up? - I find that overwhelming so I'm just jumping back in now to where we are right now

I hope that works for you !

so I've just been wondering around tidying up getting ready to settle with a DVD and a hot cup of tea - there are books scattered everywhere - each with a purpose and current so I can't get too cross at the clutter

so I decided this could be a good back to blogging post

The girls are both reading

and really it is as the name says - truly awful here's a favourite

Skeleton jokes

Q why didn't you go to the school dance?

A I had no body to go with

Now that would be fine ( bad but fine ) if it wasn't followed with

"Mumma do you get it ? Skeleton body has no body nobody to go with get it ? do you get it?

after every joke....

They take it to school each day and they sit with their friends sharing the book around telling jokes - I pity the teachers on duty LOL

Next we have

Sofia is obsessed with this at the moment - I was surprised to see it come home from the library with her - the text is quite small but she is loving it and has watched the two movies many times over

Next we have

The girls fell in love with Enid when I read them parts of the far away tree some time ago and Tals bought this home from the library this week - I haven't read it before but its really lovely - I keep grabbing it and reading parts of where she is up to

We also found this at Angus and Robertsons the other day

in preparation for the movie - starting March the 4th ...

so excited we have our tickets booked for Saturday morning :)

If you haven't tried the usborne young reading series see if you can find some - perfect mix when kids are in that starting to read chapter books stage this one is beautifully illustrated but the text is great too- the vocabulary is advanced but in large print and interspersed with pictures so its challenging but very readable. I highly recommend this version of Alice for the 5 - 8 year olds even 9 ? or so

for me I have two on the go

Tale about a viking slave girl who works her way into your heart

and

which is a womens weekly good read - always a great recommendation - the story of three women set in Mississippi on the early 1960's I've only just started but can tell it's going to be tears

In our kitchen - we are preparing afternoon tea for our Godsons birthday party for tomorrow so we've earmarked some recipes from our favourite books

and a new one the girls received last week from Aunty Margie

This is great cookbook! it has a kids section and then in general some really interesting recipes - chocolate and beetroot cake...pumpkin and corn roll ... carrot and zucchini muffins are all on our to try list

I just called out to Richard to ask him what he is reading and I was told the Bible ( he's working on his RCIA journey ) and Australian Golf Digest.

So that is our book list at the moment

Dvd calling - enjoy your night thanks for popping by and please do shoot me an email with recommendations for books for the girls they are booky monsters and we are always on the look out for more things to read. ( I get a bit over the 101 fairy stories available- anything non fairy is always good )

Tamar x

Oh did you watch who wants to be a millionaire whizz kids tonight? How fabulous were those girls? What a wonderful concept - way to go Eddie!

Is finally up thank you for your patience while we dealt with the IT disasters here .

We go through pcs in this house I think this about the 3rd or 4th time this has happened and yet each time I dont learn - this was the worst I lost all EVERYTHING all emails all wiped had no contact with anyone and for 3 days looked like it wasn't retrievable

We have a new back up system in place -hopefully it will not be needed

Mostly everything is back now but each time I go to do something I realise something else that has been missed or left out

aggghh

Some collections didn't ship in the first round and then we had no access to the database - the rest will go in the next two days we are also dealing with some serious family illness which is taking much of Richard's and my time and head space- so if you are still waiting won't be long now! We thank you so much for your understanding. Hoping to be back fully on an even keel very soon.

You know it's been some time when you have to actually log in to post.

without doubt I'm fortunate to be a glass half full girl - you know a glass is half full not half empty -silver lining and all that but this week has been a shocker

Starting with my iphone being stolen - not being covered by our insurance despite our calling to check prior to purchase - we are waiting for a ruling and they are going through checking their calls to find our original call -I'm not feeling particular confident about our chances - I have had it one month...2 year plan

The circumstances around the theft were particularly trying and its really knocked me

in other news we have just been busy LOL

parent teacher interviews this week - Richard's been working hard on his RCIA journey which culminates at Easter I have the feb collection to pack - it goes out Monday

on my new timetable at school its great I get two afternoons a week off because I do early starts - the trick is actually leaving the school- thats not working for me at the moment so Im actually just working longer hours- we have laptops too which I just love - but now Im finding Im even more connected to work - hard to switch it off

i cant seem to find the balance - Year two homework - oh my goodness its constant.

Im also very keen to find some good quick afternoon snacks for having while doing homework- otherwise there is not enough hours in the afternoon!

ANYHOW there are real problems in the world Im perfectly fine and healthy and happy as are my lovely family we are just dragging through the daily stuff - I think there is a light ahead:)

So this weekend

Chinese New Year

We worked out this is our 12th year of celebrating like this

We have 21 for dinner tomorrow night - at first looked like many couldn't make it but stuff got rearranged and we are at no seats left!

i think I mentioned a bit earlier the girls were keen for a butterfly glitter tree - Its the year of the tiger - ( and i s my husband having a field day with that little gem! )

so I'm not sure how butterflies and tigers match but when you are 7 you know everything and they wont ever be 7 again :)

so tonight we made our butterfly tree -and added chinese read hearts cause its valentines day too Mumma and you have to tell everyone you love them

so if you are over tomorrow at our place please look away now

Its turned out so sweet we all love it I can't wait to do the whole table up

The girls and Richard are heading to Brissie in the morning to visit Pohpoh at the temple and Im heading to do the grocery shopping - I tell you the ONLY thing I hate about Chinese new year is the prep Its enormous - Should have married an Italian - pasta and water much simpler LOL

After the girls went to bed I made this bracelet for myself to wear tomorrow - red of course

dodgy photo but you get the idea- also made necklaces for the girls they will find those tomorrow morning

Richard has got me the new Coco chanel movie from the DVD store I should go sleep but i think I'll go watch instead. We had swimming carnival today---- so hot - im still feeling the heat tonight.

Here's hoping our Chinese New Year, marks the beginning of a better balance.

Thanks for dropping by Ill be updating with recipes etc over and after the weekend

Rachel says "I am loving the new products coming from the likes of
Melissa Frances of late, they a very vintagey, lovely pastel colours and old
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Welcome to my blog, I am so happy you came to visit. I share the stories of my life creating, documenting and loving as a Mumma to twin girls. I am navigating a clean eating lifestyle as I run towards being a breast cancer survivor.